Combination closure and disappearing pouring spout construction



NELSON 2,791,357

Harry N Nelson May 7, H W

COMBINATION CLOSURE AND DISAPPEARING POURING SPOUT CONSTRUCTION FlledDec 15, 1954 v i 5 c COINATION CLUSURE AND DISAPPEARING POURING SPQUTCONSTRUCTION Harry W. Nelson, Rockford, Iii.

Application December 15, 1954, Serial No. 475,422

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-525) This invention relates to combination closure anddisappearing pouring spout constructions for cans intended for use withliquids of all kinds.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a pouring spout ofsimple and economical construction designed for suspension inside thetop portion of the can in retracted position and for threaded connectionwith the top of the can in extended position.

Special features of the present construction are:

(1) A slight flare on the outer end of the spout which provides asupporting annular flange for suspension of the spout in the can byengagement on top of a neck provided on the top of the can, the flangealso cooperating with a closure cap applied to the neck to clamp thespout in the retracted position, besides being useful also as a means oflifting the spout with the finger-tips and providing an ideal pouringlip;

(2) An externally threaded enlarged attaching neck portion on the innerend of the spout, which is threadable inside the internally threadedneck on the top of the can to support the spout in its extended positionand at the same time provide a liquid tight seal at the joint or onethat is tight enough for practical purposes, and

(3) A flexible metal tube, which may or may not be provided, serving asthe inner end portion of the spout and joined to the attaching neckportion of the spout, so that when the spout is extended it can beflexed laterally for more convenient pouring.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate the at present preferred form of combinationclosure and disappearing pouring spout construction of my invention,showing the spout in Fig. l in the retracted position, in Fig. 2 in apartially extended position, and in Fig. 3 in extended pouring position,and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified or alternativeconstruction.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the reference numeral 8 designates a tin canwhich may be of any suitable size, the same having a flat top wall 9 inone corner portion of which the combination closure and disappearingpouring spout of my invention is provided as indicated generally by thereference numeral 10. This assembly 10 includes a formed sheet metalneck 11 suitably mounted in a hole 12 in the top 9 and providinginternal and external threads 13 and 14, respectively, this neck havingan intumed annular top flange 15 defining an opening 16 through whichthe cylindrical sheet metal spout 17 is extensible, as appears in Figs.2 and 3, from the retracted position shown in Fig. 1. In the retractedposition the spout is supported by the flared upper or outer end prtion18 which engages around the hole 16 in the intumed flange 15 on the neck11, as seen in Fig. 1. This flared 2,7 91,357 Patented May 7, 1957portion 18, in other words, defines a supporting annular flange engagingthe top of the neck 11 for support of the spout in the retractedposition, and it is also useful as a means of lifting the spout with thefinger tips, and it also provides an ideal pouring lip. When the closurecap 19 is threaded on neck 11, using the external threads 14, a gasket20 of cork or other suitable compressible material provided inside thetop thereof bears against the flange defined by the flared end 18 of thespout 17 and also bears against the flange 15 on top of the neck 11 toseal the can tightly and clamp the spout in the retracted position sothat it is not apt to rattle. There is an externally threaded enlargedattaching neck portion 21 of sheet metal construction provided on theinner end of the spout 17 that is threadable inside the neck 11, usingthe internal threads 13, to support the spout in its extended position,as shown in Fig. 3, and at the same time provide a liquid-tight seal atthe joint, or a seal that is tight enough at least for practicalpurposes. If desired, a gasket ring of rubber or cork may be providedaround the lower end of the spout 17 on top of the neck 21, as indicatedin dotted lines at 22 in Fig. 2, and this ring will serve by compressionbetween the top of the neck 21 and the bottom of the flange 15 to sealthe joint and prevent leakage during pouring.

As shown in Fig. 4, a flexible metal tube 23 may be provided between theinner end of the spout 17a and the attaching neck portion 21 andsoldered or otherwise suitably secured at its opposite ends to the spoutand neck. In that Way, the spout, when extended, can be flexed laterallyfor more convenient pouring, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claim has beendrawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

In a discharge spout construction a formed sheet metal neck defining athread on its exterior of one diameter and a complementary thread on itsinterior of a smaller diameter, said neck also having an inwardlyprojecting flange on the upper end thereof defining an internal annularshoulder therebeneath, a tubular spout element slidable in said neck ofuniform radius except at its upper end which is flared outwardly to reston top of said inturned flange for support of the spout element on theneck in a retracted position, said spout having on its lower end anenlarged externally threaded neck threadable in the internal threads ofthe first mentioned neck, said enlarged externally threaded neckdefining on the top thereof an annular shoulder, a gasket ringsurrounding said spout element and resting on said annular shoulder andarranged to be compressed between said shoulder and the first mentionedshoulder on the inturned flange when the spout element is in extendedposition, whereby to seal the connection, and a cap threaded on theexternal threads of said first mentioned neck and having therein agasket of compressible sealing material for engagement on the upper endof said first mentioned neck and the flared end of said spout element toprovide a seal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,456,445 Hooper May 22, 1923 1,468,360 Frey Sept. 18, 1923 1,627,807Roussie May 10, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 635,845 France Jan. 3, 1928

